Category: keyt-local-news

News Channel 3-12

The City of Santa Barbara is hosting their annual Fourth of July celebration, featuring a 20-minute fireworks display presented by Garden State Fireworks and sponsored by the City’s Waterfront Department.

All fireworks outside of the city’s show are illegal. To report specific sites, contact SBPD’s Dispatch Center’s non-emergency line at (805) 882-8900. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1 with specific details.

The City is also hosting a full-lineup of live music and performances at the West Beach Bandstand:

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Ala Carte with Jan Ingram and Henry Garrett

12:20 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. – Rock Shop Academy

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Goodlanders

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Peer Pressure

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – The Three Combroneros

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Walking Coco

5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – The Other Woman

5:45 p.m. – Old Spanish Days w/ El Presidente Fritz Olenberger, Spirit – Natalia Trevinio, Junior Spirit – Victoria Placencia

6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Ladyfinger

7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – East Valley Rd

7:45 p.m. – Uncle Sam Patriotic Tribute by Army Veteran, Kraig Pakulski

8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – False Puppet

8:45 p.m. – Kiki Reyes, Star Spangled Banner – Oscar Gutierrez Pledge of Allegiance

9:00 p.m. – 9:20 p.m. – Fireworks! * plus special guests including La Boheme Dancers throughout the day

Food and Vendors Booths will line the sidewalk along Cabrillo Blvd from 11:00am – 9:00pm! This year’s vendors include Tink’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs, Lidos Philly Cheese Steaks, Timbers Roadhouse, G Brothers Kettle Corn, Elubia’s Kitchen, and The Deli Doctor.

Road closures:

Cabrillo Boulevard (Castillo Street to Calle Cesar Chavez) – Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m.

State Street (Gutierrez Street to Cabrillo Boulevard) – Closed to vehicle traffic at 6:00 p.m.

Stearns Wharf – Closed to vehicle traffic at 3:30 p.m.

More things to know:

Lifeguards will be on duty from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Leadbetter Beach, West Beach, and East Beach.

Additional bike racks will be in place.

The MTD Shuttle will be in operation until 6 p.m. along the waterfront.

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Caleb Nguyen

SOUTH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Fire crews put out a house fire that killed a cat and a dog just after 4:00 p.m. on July 4.

One Santa Barbara City firefighter was taken to Cottage Hospital for a leg injury, but the residents weren’t home at the time of the fire, according to the SBCFD.

Fire crews knocked down the fire at 4:30 P.M. and tried to revive both pets but could not do so before mopping up hot spots of the fire, according to the SBCFD.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Being a mom is hard enough, but it’s especially tough in the summertime without the structure of a school schedule. Trying to juggle a work schedule and making sure your children are taken care of creates an additional level of stress for working moms.

Rebalancing expert, and mom herself, Carol Enneking joined your News Channel to offer some advice to mothers who may be struggling this summer. The author of the new book, The Rebalancing Act, highlighted the mental toll it takes on working moms to balance so many jobs at once.

“Depending on where you are in your motherhood journey or your working motherhood journey, it might look a little different, but I can remember many summers just trying to cobble together schedules of different activities to keep the kids occupied, keep them from just parked in being parked in front of a screen all the time,” Enneking says.

A report done by Motherly.com says working moms are never really “off the clock,” and it’s a constant race to keep up with everything at work, at home, and in life.

“I’m not sure there is such a thing as balance because the minute everything’s in balance, then something changes.”

Enneking says social media also contributes to mom stress – as family influencers and bloggers have become a popular trend on Youtube and other social media platforms, it’s easy to compare your life to those protrayed positively online. But Enneking says it’s important not to let this get to you.

“Now we’re sort of bombarded with these messages all the time about what a great summer vacation looks like and happy kids, happy parents, and all these pictures everywhere on social media that are portraying that life ought to look like that,” Enneking says.

Enneking’s overall message for moms to take a deep breath and knowing you’re doing the best you can.

“I think one of the biggest things is [to] recognized that, that’s not real and that it’s normal to feel some struggle as you try to balance all of these things and when you can take some time, just pause, take a deep breath and think about what really matters and learn to let things go that are lower in value.”

To learn more about Carol Enneking and her books, The Rebalancing Act, visit her website.

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Jarrod Zinn

PISMO BEACH & SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Independence Day has so far been celebrated safely and sanely on the Central Coast.

The festivities spanned from Pismo Beach to Santa Maria, and beyond.

At Pismo Beach Pier, the 4th of July celebrations started at 9 a.m. with vendors from local businesses set up on the beach sand and in the parking lot.

It lasts all day, finishing the night with a professional fireworks display from the end of the pier at 9 p.m.

“We’re out here on summer vacation,” says Mason Krein, who lives in Brentwood. “Just having a great time out here.”

In Santa Maria, from 12-4 p.m. at the Elks baseball field behind the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, a free public celebration called “Red, White and Play!” was held courtesy of a collaboration between Santa Maria Recreation & Parks and PLAY, Inc.

“We’re offering this great atmosphere for families to come out and enjoy,” says Dennis Smitherman, santa Maria Recreation Services manager. “Give them a chance to go out and play during the day, and they’ll be able to go home and celebrate tonight with their friends and family.”

With many unincorporated areas of the Central Coast, including Oceano in SLO county and Orcutt in North Santa Barbara County, having now prohibited the use of all personal fireworks, including those labeled “safe and sane,” communities are celebrating during the day, carnival style.

“I am glad that there’s professional shows,” says Krein. “You know, it’s beautiful coming out here at night and just being able to enjoy the view, enjoy the sky, all the fireworks.”

Fire departments are staffed and present at all these events, so the festive atmosphere and pleasant weather the Central Coast is famous for can facilitate a successful, safe and sane holiday.

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Mike Klan

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – Longtime Cate High School coach Ben Soto was honored by the California Baseball Coaches Association with a Hall of Fame Award.

He was commended for his success and service to California high school baseball.

Soto has led the Rams baseball team in Carpinteria for 32 years and has won 17 league titles.

“I am honored for this acknowledgement and a heartfelt thanks to God for putting me on this coaching path that I am on,” began Soto.

“To all the coaches ( to many to name ) who I have coached with that have influenced me in a positive way, ( Mr. Pannizion and  Mr Warren to lead that list ) and finally to all my players who gave to me a whole lot more than I gave to them ! “

Ben Soto is also the head coach of the Rams football team for the past 21 years.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The ‘Sters fought hard, but the momentum never quite swung their way, with several close calls and almost-runs that just didn’t pan out. The Foresters fell to the Academy Barons; a final score of 3-0.

Ka’imi Kahalekai set the tone early on the mound, picking off a runner at first in the opening, and striking out the “beer batter” to earn all adult fans a coupon for free beer. Terrence Kiel sparked early offensive action with a leadoff single and stolen base, but the Foresters couldn’t cash in, leaving the game scoreless after one.

The Barons opened the scoring in the third inning with a Jarrett Nielson triple, followed by an RBI single from Chip Mertz. The inning ended with a defensive gem by Brady Dallimore, who gunned down Mertz at the plate to prevent further damage.

The Foresters battled in the bottom of the third, but their momentum stalled when Easton Rulli was tagged out at home to end the inning. Despite continued effort at the plate and solid pitching, including a couple of clutch double plays, the Foresters trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth.

Kahalekai kept dealing, picking up his fifth strikeout in the fifth inning, but the Barons managed to tack on another run, stretching their lead to 2-0. The game stayed tight, with both teams battling hard and keeping scoring chances limited.

Andrew Guardino was the first reliever out of the pen and made an immediate impact, striking out three batters looking in a dominant frame, bringing much-needed energy into the Foresters’ dugout as the offense worked to rally. In the bottom half, Dallimore got on base and stole second, but it wasn’t enough.

Opposing pitcher Franky Lopez of the Barons delivered a dominant performance. Lopez tossed 6 shutout innings, surrendering just 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8 Foresters. 

The Foresters continued to give their all, but the Barons struck again in the sixth, and the ‘Sters’ offense stalled, leaving the score at 3-0 going into the seventh.

Momentum picked up in the seventh as Kiel and Caden Miller singled, driving Kiel to third with Farr up to bat. Farr walked to load the bases, but the light was snuffed out once again, and the Foresters couldn’t push a run across. The eighth followed a similar pattern. 

Tag Andrews was brought in to pitch the final inning for the ‘Sters in a last push to shift the energy. He held the Barons scoreless in the top of the ninth, giving the Foresters one final shot to rally. Despite a determined effort at the plate, the Foresters couldn’t string together the hits they needed, and the game closed with a 3-0 loss at home.

The Foresters look to bounce back tomorrow at 4:30 PM at Eddie Mathews Field as they take on the California Tigers in an exciting 4th of July matchup. Bring your Foresters pride, and your American spirit!

(Article courtesy of the Foresters Olivia Hovorka & Marshall Fiorita).

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Mina Wahab

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif.—Changing winds have made it difficult to gauge which areas of the county will be most impacted by the Madre Fire, though ash has already been seen on cars as far south as Santa Barbara. In addition to dispersing smoke and ash, wildfires also create pollutants in the form of fine particulate matter. “That very fine particulate matter is usually where our concerns about health come from. It can get deeper into your lungs and it causes stress on your lungs and heart and can cause further issues from there,” said San Luis Obispo Public Health Epidemiologist Roxanne Archer.

Those most at risk to the harmful side effects that come with smoke inhalation include children, older adults, and people with existing respiratory illness and heart conditions. But that’s not stopping some locals from enjoying their 4th of July weekend. “I noticed yesterday there was some smoke in the air. But it is what it is. It doesn’t bother us at all,” said Dave Vanwie, who lives in Nipomo.

Still, air district officials say it’s important to take common sense precautions to reduce exposure to spoke and ash. They advise to remain indoors, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and close all windows and doors to prevent additional smoke from coming inside the home. “Exposure to wildfire smoke such as this can exacerbate existing conditions, things like asthma, COPD, health conditions, you know, respiratory health conditions like that,” said San Luis Obispo Assistant Air Pollution Control Officer Karl Tupper.

For tips on how to develop a clean air room in your home or how to make an emergency indoor air purifier, visit the SLO Clean Air website.

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Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The U.S. Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Thursday, prompting sharply divided reactions over its sweeping tax cuts, defense spending increases, and steep reductions to social safety net programs.

Democrats in Congress uniformly opposed the bill, which now heads to President Trump’s desk. Former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson also criticized the legislation, calling it a “disaster” for working Americans and the vulnerable.

“If you’re the top 1%, probably this bill is going to benefit you. If you’re the rest of the United States of America, this bill is a disaster,” Jackson said.

She argued the bill would explode the federal deficit and gut Medicaid and food assistance programs, placing hospitals and low-income families at risk.

“This bill is blowing open the deficit now by another $3.4 trillion so that by the end of the decade we’ll be spending $1 trillion a year just to pay our debt,” Jackson said.

“This bill essentially decimates the Medicaid program that’s gonna put 12 to 16 million people out of the opportunity to get health care when they need it,” she added. “Hospitals are gonna close. Nursing homes are gonna close. People are not gonna be able to access the health care they need.”

Jackson also criticized the bill’s impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which she said would leave millions without access to food, including children, veterans, and seniors.

“Food for 7 million people is going to be denied or made less available… Where is this money going that they’re saving from these programs? It’s going for tax cuts to the rich.”

Former Santa Barbara City Councilman Dale Francisco praised the bill’s continuation of Trump-era tax cuts and increased military spending, saying it would strengthen the economy and national defense.

“I would agree with Speaker Johnson that it will make the country more prosperous and stronger,” Francisco said.

He dismissed Democratic concerns over the bill’s tax structure, noting the overwhelming share of federal income taxes paid by top earners.

“The top half pay 97%. So it’s really hard to do tax cuts without benefiting people in the upper portion of income earners,” he said. “The top 1%, the evil 1%, they contribute 40% of all federal income tax revenue. So obviously tax cuts are going to be beneficial to people who are paying taxes. Not to the people who don’t.”

Francisco argued that concerns about Medicaid and SNAP were overblown, describing the projected reductions as modest slowdowns in program growth rather than true cuts.

“They’re mostly conjectural,” he said. “What we’re talking about here is not actual cuts but maybe a slight slowdown in the increases.”

He also advocated for work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients.

“The 15 million people who are able-bodied with no children and no other dependents, there should be a work requirement for those folks,” Francisco said.

Jackson pushed back, saying most Medicaid recipients are already working or unable to work due to caregiving responsibilities, disability, or school.

“Over 2/3 of the people who get Medicaid are already working full time or most of the time… the others who don’t work are usually caregivers or students or others who themselves are disabled.”

She further objected to the bill’s rollback of clean energy incentives and expansion of funding for immigration enforcement.

“We’re going to lose 800,000 jobs because we’re gonna start now giving money to the oil and natural gas industry,” Jackson said. “We’re gonna be seeing these jackboots around more and more. The American people don’t like it. It’s contrary to American values, and I think it’s an embarrassment and a disgrace to this country.”

Though both leaders acknowledged flaws in the bill’s construction, including last-minute amendments, they remained sharply divided on its overall impact.

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Andrew Gillies

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Fireworks sparked an explosion that killed one person and ignited a house fire Thursday afternoon in the 1600 block of Edmund Street in Simi Valley, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion around 11:48 a.m. Crews arrived to find a structure fire, with flames spreading from the garage into the attic and main areas of the home. The fire was fully knocked down by 12:42 p.m.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the deceased and notify next of kin.

According to the Simi Valley Police Department, fireworks caused the explosion. Police have asked the public to avoid the area while crews continue overhaul operations.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura County Air Pollution Control Districts regarding air quality warnings this wildfire season.

TRI-COUNTIES, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura County Air Pollution Control Districts (APCD) encourage residents to prepare for potential poor air quality caused by smoke now that the area has entered peak wildfire season.

Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles known as particulate matter that can travel hundreds of miles. These particles harm the lungs and heart and can cause coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulty, chest pain, nausea and, in severe instances, premature mortality. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, kids, and pregnant women are especially sensitive.

The best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible when smoke is present. Take these steps to stay safe:

Know local air quality conditions.

For current air quality conditions and dailyforecasts, visit and bookmark your air district’s website.

San Luis Obispo County APCD — www.slocleanair.org/air-quality/air-quality-forecast

Santa Barbara County APCD — www.OurAir.org/todays-air-quality/

Ventura County APCD — www.vcapcd.org

You can also view current conditions – including from PurpleAir sensors at the neighborhood level — on the AirNow Fire & Smoke map, available in English and Spanish: fire.airnow.gov.

Sign up for Air Quality Alerts and notifications through your air district:

Santa Barbara County APCD — OurAir.org/subscribe (Available via text and/or email, in English and Spanish)

San Luis Obispo County APCD — SLOCleanAir.org/air-quality-alerts

Ventura County APCD — vcapcd.org/#enews (Ventura County Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Text Alerts — Sign up by texting “SMOKE” for English or “HUMO” for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.)

2. Smoke-proof your home.

Create a clean air room by putting a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifier in a room where you spend a lot of time, like a bedroom. These can reduce particulate matter indoors by 90%.

 They can be purchased at hardware stores or online retailers.

Make sure that the device doesn’t create ozone. Find a list of safe options at https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm.

Choose a make and model suited for your room size. HEPA purifiers for an average-sized bedroom cost about $75.

Replace the filter as directed in the owner’s manual. Filters need to be replaced more frequently if used during a wildfire.

Assembling a do-it-yourself version of an air purifier for a clean air room can be a more affordable option, with materials costing about $40. This DIY version has been shown to reduce harmful particulate matter indoors similarly to a HEPA purifier:

Use tape to attach a 20-by-20-inch MERV 13 air filter — like what you would use for an HVAC system — to the back of a 20-by-20-inch box fan. Attaching to the back of the fan creates a better seal. Use a 2012 or newer fan due to safety features.

Check the direction of the air flow, which is marked on the side of the filter.

As needed, disassemble the fan to wipe away dirt.

Don’t leave the device unattended.

Turn off the fan while sleeping.

Use the device modified in this way only as an air cleaner, not as a fan to cool your home.

Check windows and doors to ensure the room is sealed tightly so smoke does not get pulled inside. Weatherize your home in preparation for wildfires by sealing leaky windows and doors.

Upgrade the filter in your HVAC system to a filter rated MERV 13. Check and replace that filter regularly.

Avoid activities that create smoke or pollution indoors, such as smoking, using your wood-burning fireplace, and burning incense or candles. Use your range hood while cooking.

People with health conditions should talk to their doctor to develop a personal plan for wildfire smoke.

3. Find a Clean Air Center near you if you can’t create a clean air room at home.

Find the one closest to you at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

Traducción en español:

La area de los TRES CONDADOS, Calif. – Los Distritos de Control de la Contaminación del Aire (APCD) del Condado de Santa Bárbara, el Condado de San Luis Obispo y el Condado de Ventura alientan a los residentes a prepararse para la posible baja calidad del aire causada por el humo, ahora que el área ha entrado en la temporada alta de incendios forestales.

El humo y las cenizas de los incendios forestales contienen partículas muy pequeñas, conocidas como material particulado, que pueden viajar cientos de kilómetros. Estas partículas dañan los pulmones y el corazón y pueden causar tos, sibilancias, dificultad para respirar, dolor en el pecho, náuseas y, en casos graves, muerte prematura. Las personas con enfermedades cardíacas o pulmonares, los adultos mayores, los niños y las mujeres embarazadas son especialmente sensibles.

La mejor protección contra el humo de los incendios forestales es permanecer en casa el mayortiempo posible cuando haya humo. Tome estas medidas para mantenerse seguro:

Conozca las condiciones de calidad del aire locales

Para conocer las condiciones actuales de la calidad del aire y los pronósticos diarios, visite y marque como favorito la página de internet de su distrito.

APCD del condado de San Luis Obispo — www.slocleanair.org/air-quality/airquality-forecast

APCD del condado de Santa Bárbara — https://www.ourair.org/pronosticos-ycalidad-del-aire-de-hoy/?lang=es

APCD del condado de Ventura — www.vcapcd.org

También puede ver las condiciones actuales, incluiendo la de los sensores PurpleAir a nivel de vecindario, en el mapa de incendios y humo de AirNow, disponible en inglés y español: fire.airnow.gov.

Regístrese para recibir alertas y notificaciones sobre la calidad del aire a través de su distrito aéreo:

APCD del condado de Santa Bárbara — https://www.ourair.org/subscribase-a-lasalertas-noticias-y-avisos/?lang=es (Disponible vía mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico, en inglés y español.)

APCD del condado de San Luis Obispo — SLOCleanAir.org/air-quality-alerts

APCD del condado de Ventura — vcapcd.org/#enews (Alertas de texto sobre el humo de los incendios forestales para trabajadores agrícolas del condado de Ventura: regístrese enviando un mensaje de texto con la palabra “SMOKE” para mensajes en inglés o “HUMO” para mensajes en español, mixteco y zapoteco al 855-522-0034.)

2. Proteja su hogar del humo.

Cree una habitación con aire limpio instalando un purificador HEPA (filtro de aire de partículas de alta eficiencia) en una habitación donde pase mucho tiempo, como un dormitorio. Estos filtros pueden reducir las partículas en el interior hasta un 90%.

Se pueden comprar en ferreterías o por internet.

Asegúrese de que el dispositivo no genere ozono. Encuentre una lista de opciones seguras en: https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm.

Elija una marca y un modelo adecuado para el tamaño de su habitación. Los purificadores HEPA para una habitación de tamaño promedio cuestan aproximadamente $75

Reemplace el filtro según las instrucciones del manual del usuario. Los filtros deben reemplazarse con mayor frecuencia si se utilizan durante un incendio forestal.

Armar un purificador de aire casero para una habitación con aire limpio puede ser una opción más económica, con materiales que cuestan alrededor de $40. Se ha demostrado que esta versión casera reduce las partículas nocivas en interiores de forma similar a un purificador HEPA.

Use cinta adhesiva para fijar un filtro de aire MERV 13 de 50 x 50 cm (similar al que se usa en un sistema de climatización) a la parte trasera de un ventilador de caja de 50 x 50 cm. Fijarlo a la parte trasera del ventilador crea un mejor sellado. Use un ventilador del año 2012 o posterior por sus características de seguridad.

Verifique la dirección del flujo de aire, que está marcada en el costado del filtro.

Según sea necesario, desmonte el ventilador para limpiar la suciedad.

No deje el dispositivo desatendido.

Apage el ventilador mientras duerma

Utilice el dispositivo modificado de esta manera sólo como purificador de aire, no como ventilador para refrescar su hogar.

Revise las ventanas y puertas para asegurarse de que la habitación esté bien sellada y no entre humo. Prepárese para los incendios forestales sellando las ventanas y puertas con goteras.

Actualice el filtro de su sistema HVAC a un filtro con clasificación MERV 13. Revise y reemplace ese filtro periódicamente.

Evite actividades que generen humo o contaminación en interiores, como fumar, usar la chimenea de leña y quemar incienso o velas. Use la campana extractora mientras cocina.

Las personas con problemas de salud deben hablar con su médico para desarrollar un plan personal para el humo de los incendios forestales.

3. Encuentre un Centro de Aire Limpio cerca de usted si no puede crear una habitación con aire limpio en casa.

Encuentre la más cercana a usted en: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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